Dear attendees, boys and girls,
Have you, like I did in the past, ever participated in the Bevrijdingsloop in Holten? Now imagine this: one day, you get to take part in the biggest sporting event in the world, the Olympic Games. After years of training, your greatest dream finally comes true. You pack your large orange TeamNL suitcase and feel one hundred percent prepared. As you leave, family and friends wave you off with pride and excitement. In the Olympic Village, everything is perfectly arranged, and you know exactly what to expect. On the day of the final, you stand proudly at the starting line. You glance left and right: your competitors from countries all over the world are just as nervous as you are. Then the starting gun fires. Everyone gives it their all, but only a few will reach the podium. That’s why people call you brave and determined: you gave it your all, no matter how nerve-racking it was. And you didn’t give up when the road to your goal got tough. Because you knew: that Olympic medal is worth it all.
Now imagine this: there’s a war, and you are suddenly called upon. Completely unexpectedly, you have to pack your things, but there isn’t much room in your armygreen backpack. And what do you bring, when you have no idea what lies ahead? As you leave, you say goodbye to friends and family, but you don’t know if you’ll ever see them again. You don’t even really know where you’re going. That tiny country, The Netherlands, where exactly is it? What will it be like there? How long will it take? Everything is uncertain. You feel nervous, but also determined, and proud: you want to do this, you are going to help defend the country.
Now that, I call courage. That, I call perseverance. Giving it your all when you have no idea what to expect. Fighting every day and never giving up, even when things go wrong again and again. That’s what the (Canadian) soldiers did 80 years ago, who had the courage to fight under the worst imaginable conditions. So that now, I can fight under the best imaginable conditions—but for a medal. And so that when I represent the Netherlands at the Olympic Games, I am not only competing against other countries, but I also feel connected with them. Because my competitors and I share a love for the same sport, we respect each other and congratulate each other on the podium. I had the privilege to witness firsthand how the Olympic Games bring countries closer together—thanks to the courage of those soldiers 80 years ago. They fought for our freedom, so that we can now experience these moments of connection, even with countries we compete against.
That’s what I reflect on today; that’s what I am especially grateful for today. And I want to invite you all to take a moment to reflect on your freedom too. Not just today, but also, for example, when you pack your bag in the morning and your parents wave you off, knowing you’ll come home safely later that day. Realize: that freedom didn’t come naturally. Let us never forget how we got it.
Thank you.